Up until the start of last season, only one team had ever been beaten 9-0 in the first 27 years of the EPL.
Now it has happened to Southampton twice in 16 months.
Manchester United’s 9-0 thrashing of the Saints on Tuesday came after Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side were thumped by the same scoreline by Leicester in October 2019.
United’s 9-0 win over Ipswich Town in 1995 was the only other time it had happened.
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And, much like in the home defeat by Leicester, Southampton suffered an early setback at Old Trafford with a sending off, this time youngster Alexandre Jankewitz receiving a straight red card after only two minutes.
Hasenhüttl and his side took on a recovery process after that humiliation at the hands of the Foxes, enduring reminders of the result in the build-up to a 2-1 win against the same opponent three months later, and facing up to questions on the one-year anniversary.
They emerged stronger, it seemed, winning five of their first eight league games this season and being praised for their high-energy approach. Only four weeks ago they beat defending champions Liverpool 1-0.
But now the rebuilding starts again.
“We lost again in a horrible way. The same story: one man down and 90 minutes can be long,” said Southampton’s Austrian coach, who had nine players out injured against United.
“The lads had no alternatives – no players on the bench, no alternatives to defend better. In the end, it’s a different situation to the first time. It hurts more to have this result again. But the team are a different one now and we’ve had a good season so far. Let’s see how the season ends.”
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The punishing numbers for Saints
. This was Southampton’s biggest away defeat in any competition and they have now lost four consecutive league games.
. Some 35% of Southampton’s Premiership goals this season – 12 out of 35 – have been conceded against Manchester United.
. It was the first time United had won a competitive game by more than a five-goal margin against Southampton.
. The Saints became only the second team in EPL history to receive two red cards against United at Old Trafford after Wigan in November 2010.
. Jankewitz became the first player to be sent off on his PL debut since Serge Aurier for Tottenham Hotspur in September 2017. – BBC Sport
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